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Media Release: Coal Seam Gas Company Withdraw from Corowa

Community environment groups across the region are celebrating the news that Energetica Resources Pty Ltd has withdrawn its application for a coal seam gas (CSG) licence in south western NSW (i.e. the region to the north and north west of Corowa).

“We are very pleased to hear that Energetica has withdrawn their application,” said Delwyn Clifton, Community Support Officer for Corowa District Landcare. “Many farmers have been talking to me about their concerns over the CSG issue, so it will come as a great relief to them to hear it’s no longer on the immediate agenda.”

Lizette Salmon, spokesperson for Wodonga AlburyTowards Climate Health (WATCH), said “It’s possible Energetica‘s decision to withdraw has been influenced by the community mobilisation occurring in the region. Just a month ago I received an email from Len Diekman, Director of Energetica, stating he would be ‘delighted’ to speak at our CSG public forum and then out of the blue he emailed today to say Energetica had withdrawn their application.”

“Energetica’s decision follows a similar pattern to other parts of Victoria, in which community sentiment has triggered withdrawal of coal or CSG licence applications. This also happened in the Ovens region last year, when Green Energy Australia withdrew their CSG licence application following a public forum in Wangaratta.”

In light of Energetica’s decision, the public forum planned for Thursday 25 October has now been cancelled. “We were expecting a full house at next week’s gathering, but under the circumstances we’ve decided to spend the evening celebrating at home, rather than hosting a forum,” said Ms Clifton. “Although the heat has been taken out of the current situation we do, however, need to remain vigilant about future coal seam gas exploration applications. There’s nothing to stop another company putting in an application tomorrow. We must all pay attention to future CSG interest in our region.”